Managing Through Difficult Times
Keeping your team together and focused through tough times
By Andrew Stott
You may not realize this, but when your business hits a bump in the road, the real threat is not the drop in revenue and profits; it’s the possible exodus of your most talented employees. They may fear for their future and seek security elsewhere. Without proper management, this can kill your business.
When times are tough, your employees will question your strategies and tactics. They may wonder how this situation arose. You may lose your best people. And your business will be jeopardized. You need to give them hope. You’ll need to support their morale and deal with their motivation.
• Make sure employees are receiving regular and consistent messages.
• Ensure the impression your company is doing what’s best for them wherever possible.
• Reinforce the feeling that the situation is being properly managed.
Frequent messages must come from the very “top” of the business unit. These are important in ensuring all employees are receiving the same message, in providing a forthright explanation of all that is happening, and in providing the current vision and strategy moving forward. This cannot be delegated – employees want to hear from their leader.
Key messages for your employees are simple and easily understood:
• The company values people above all. Everything possible is being done to minimize job loss and provide opportunities for existing employees.
• We are successful – don’t panic! The current business environment, while challenging, is not unusual and is within our ability to manage.
• This is our issue to manage. We are managing it. Together, we shall overcome.
Tactics for delivering these messages include:
Leader Communications: A weekly communication from CEO, which addresses the business downturn and shows leadership, vision and hope for the future.
Employee Meetings: This is your single best opportunity to address employee concerns. Questions must be encouraged and answered honestly. People will see through a con Direct communication from immediate managers/supervisors is critical to maintaining morale.
Delivering difficult news and managing employee perceptions and expectations are critical, yet often overlooked.
Andrew Stott is the Founder and President of Sales Solutions. He provides “go-to-market” sales and marketing business programs. Contact him at 905.918.1909 or andrew.stott@sales-solutions.org.
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
